Joseph



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. NOYES, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

COMB.

, sPEcIFicA'rIoN' forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,468, dated December 25, 1894.

Application filed August 21,-189'h Serial No. 520,892. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. NOYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, county of Broome, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dressing-Combs, fully describedand represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in dressing combs generally, the improvements constituting the present invention relating more particularly, however, as a whole, to

combs of that class which are formed of two pieces or, parts carrying the teeth, which pieces are united together, with their ends abutting,.by a metallic back bent over the backs of the two pieces with its edges engaging grooves therein near the bases of-the teeth.

In making such combs, as a portion of the back of the twopieces is exposed between the edges of the metallic back and the bases of the teeth, the abutting ends of the two pieces must be fitted with great nicety so that the joint will be concealed as much as possible and so'that in use the hair of the user will not be caught between the two ends and torn.

When such combs are composed of horn or similar material, as they usually are, the horn at the time the metallic back is applied is comparatively green or moist, and while the joint between the two ends may at that time be perfect, it afterward, owing to the drying and consequent shrinkage of the horn, becomes more or less imperfect, the ends of the two pieces of horn separating and forming a notch which renders the comb unsightly, catches in and tears the hair, and, accumulating' dirt, renders it difficult to keep the comb clean.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome this difficulty and to provide a cover for this-purpose consisting of a band of metal encircling the comb back and passing be tween the contiguous teeth of the abutting ends of the two pieces of the comb so as to cover and conceal the joint between them. As, however, the presence of such a band solely for this purpose upon the comb back might, in some cases, be considered unsightly and be found objectionable for that reason, it is desirable that the band should serve some other useful purpose in addition to that of covering and concealing the joint. Asin such combs it is frequently desired that means be provided whereby they may be secured in their place of use against removal, such means usually consisting of a ring or peculiarly formed tooth at the end of the comb, I take advantagebf this and so construct the band and connect itstwo ends together as to provide means by which the comb may be connected to a chain or cord for so securing it. The band will preferably be of such width that it may be slit so as to provide three strips, the central one entering between the contiguous teeth of the abutting ends of the two pieces at their bases in line with the joint so as to cover the latter and the two side strips engaging the opposite side faces of the teeth to hold the two pieces together, and the ends of the band will be secured together over the metallic back or the comb preferably by eyeleting so as to provide a ring-like opening to receive the link of a chain or the end of a cord.

As a full understanding of the invention .can best be given by a detailed description two teeth carryingpieces held together by a' metallic back and provided with a band of metal extending over the joined ends of the two pieces-and embracing the comb back with its two ends connected by eyeleting. Fig. 2 is a similarview of a portion of the comb, the

band and the metallic back being broken away in part to show the joined ends of the two pieces of the comb. Fig. 3 is cross section of the comb taken centrally through the band. Fig. 4 is a detail of the band, and Fig.

v5 a detail of the eyelet for securing its ends together.

Referring to said drawings a, I) represent the two teeth carrying pieces which form the comb. The teeth carried by the piece a are sometimes only fine teeth and those carried by the part b coarse teeth. As shown herein however the piece a carries both fine and coarse teeth. The ends of the two pieces a, b

which are to abut are ground or filed down so that when brought together they will be parallel and fit closely together with their contiguous teeth 0, d properly distanced apart.

e represents the metallic back of the comb, the edges of which engage longitudinal grooves f formed in both faces of the pieces a, b as shown in Fig. 3, so as to hold the two pieces rigidly-in place.

The grooves f are formed of necessity at a slight distance from the bases of the teeth as shown, and a portion of the joint between the abutting ends of the two pieces a, b is thus exposed. To cover this joint and thus avoid the difficulties heretofore referred to, I provide a band 9 of suitable metal, as tin, provided with a central strip h of a width and length adapting it to fit snugly between the sides of the teeth a, d.

The band will preferably be of such width that it may be provided with slots on opposite sides of the central strip h, forming side strips 1', '5 adapted to engage the opposite sides of the teeth a, d and thus aid in holding the two pieces a, I) together against shrinkage. The band 9 is of a length sutficient to permit it to encircle the comb back and so that its ends j may be brought together over the back and connected by an eyeletlentering openings m in the ends which when clinched in the ends forms a ring for receiving the end of a chain or cord. With the pieces a, b and back e assembled as shown all that is necessary to be done to apply the band 9 thereto is to introduce the contiguous teeth a, d of pieces a, b into the slots in the band g and to force the latter down upon the teeth until its strips are in line with the bases of the teeth of the comb, the ends of the band being then brought together and secured by the eyelet l as just described.

What isv claimed is- 1. The combination with a comb formed of two abutting teeth-carrying pieces and a back uniting them, ofa band passing between the contiguous teeth of said abutting pieces in line with their abutting ends and embracing the comb back, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a comb formed of two abutting teeth-carryin g pieces and a back uniting them, of a band provided with a central strip passing between the contiguous teeth of said abutting pieces in line with their abutting ends and with side strips engaging the opposite sides of said teeth, said band embracing the comb back, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH P. NOYES. Witnesses:

AUGUSTUS BABCOCK, GEORGE WHITNEY. 

